Feminist Theory: Lisbet Van Zoonen (Representation)

Question 1

What did Van Zoonen say about gender?

Answer 1

Gender is constructed through discourse and its meaning varies according to cultural and historical context.

Question 2

What did Van Zoonen say about women?

Answer 2

The display of women’s bodies as objects to be looked at is a core element of western patriarchal culture.

Question 3

What did Van Zoonen say about mainstream culture?

Answer 3

In mainstream culture the visual and narrative codes that are used to construct the male body as a spectacle differ from those used to objectify the female.

Question 4

Theory in a nutshell

Answer 4

Men and women are represented differently in the media.

Women are objectified as a result of Western culture.